GORDON LIGHTFOOT | Politics
SMART TRAVEL
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has unveiled what he is calling a “practical, everyday fuel saving strategy” after confirming he will no longer be regularly driving to television interviews with Tova O’Brien, a move he says could be replicated by Kiwis feeling the pain at the pump.
Speaking from Wellington, Luxon said it was part of a broader effort to “cut unnecessary trips”, noting that many New Zealanders could benefit from taking a closer look at the places they’re just driving to out of habit.
“Look, at the end of the day, if you don’t drive somewhere, you don’t use the petrol,” he said. “It’s just about being a bit more intentional with what you’re doing. I looked at a few of my regular commitments and thought, do I actually need to physically go there every time?”
Luxon said he had already noticed “immediate savings” after reducing certain appearances.
“You skip a couple of those regular drives each week and suddenly you’re not filling up as often. It adds up and it’s just common sense stuff really.”
He encouraged Kiwis to apply the same thinking to their own routines.
“Could be a weekly meeting, could be a class, could be anything really. If you can cut it out or just not turn up, you’re saving fuel straight away. Fair enough if you still want to go, but just have a think about it.”
Lower Hutt resident Jason Miller said he had already taken the advice on board, by simply not turning up to his Thursday night indoor cricket.
“Was costing me about fifteen bucks in petrol each week, easy,” he said. “Now I just stay home. Still part of the team group chat, so it’s like I’m still there.”
Transport analyst Megan Poole said the strategy was “technically sound,” but noted that it may have “wider implications” depending on what people choose to stop attending.
“From a purely fuel perspective, yes, not going places will reduce usage,” she said. “What that means for everything else including democracy is probably a separate conversation.”
Luxon confirmed he is continuing to review other regular commitments that “require a drive for no real reason.”
More to come.
